Introduction to Cone 6 Crystalline Glazing - 11/1

A One-Day Hands-On Workshop

Crystalline glazing is a remarkable process in which chemistry, heat, and time come together to grow visible crystals within the surface of a glaze. Much of this transformation happens unseen inside the kiln, making the finished piece a record of both careful preparation and the natural behavior of the material. In this one-day workshop, we’ll explore the fundamentals of crystalline glazing and then put those ideas into practice on pieces you bring from home.

We’ll spend the first part of the workshop looking closely at the crystalline process: how these glazes differ from conventional ceramic glazes, how crystals form, and how glaze chemistry, application, form, and firing schedules work together to influence the final surface. Finished examples and test pieces will help make these otherwise hidden processes visible and give you a sense of the extraordinary range of results that crystalline glazing can produce.

Then we’ll move into the studio. You’ll prepare and glaze your own work using crystalline glazes provided for the workshop. We’ll cover proper application, glaze thickness, preparing pieces for the exceptionally fluid nature of crystalline glazes, and the special firing considerations needed to protect both your work and the kiln.

Throughout the day, the emphasis will be on understanding rather than simply following a recipe. Crystalline glazing rewards careful observation and thoughtful experimentation. We can create the conditions for crystals to grow, but the kiln and the materials ultimately have a voice in the result. Learning to work within that balance of intention and emergence is part of what makes the process so compelling.

What We'll Explore

- How crystalline glazes work

- How crystals nucleate and grow inside a glaze

- The role of glaze chemistry, heat, and time

- How firing schedules influence crystal size and density

- Choosing forms that work well with crystalline glazes

- Glaze application and thickness

- Managing glaze movement and runoff

- Preparing pieces for firing

- Common successes, failures, and what they can teach us

What to Bring

Participants should bring their own bisque-fired pieces to glaze during the workshop. Expect to prepare 2-3 reasonably sized pieces, using an 8x8x8 space as a reference. Because crystalline glazes are unusually fluid and require specific preparation for firing, please email studio@ceramicasupply.com for guidelines on appropriate clay bodies, forms, and sizes of pieces if you have any questions prior to the workshop.

All crystalline glazes and specialized firing materials used during the workshop will be provided.

After the Workshop

Your pieces will remain at the studio for a specialized crystalline firing. Unlike a conventional glaze firing, the kiln will be deliberately moved through different temperature ranges to first melt the glaze and then create conditions that encourage crystals to grow.

The results are never entirely predetermined. Two pieces glazed similarly can emerge from the kiln with surprisingly different crystal formations. That element of discovery is part of the process.

This workshop is intended both for artists who simply want to experience crystalline glazing and for those interested in beginning a deeper exploration of the process. It also serves as an introduction to Ceramica's broader Crystalline Glaze Program, where artists can continue into more structured study and ongoing experimentation.